A CORONER’S officer has set up a fitness class to try and help prevent some of the deaths she is confronted with on a daily basis.

Shabina Day, 36, of Hadley Road, says just a little bit of exercise can help prevent people dying of heart disease and obesity-related illnesses.

Ms Day, who acts as an administrative assistant to Coroner Andrew Walker at Hornsey Coroner’s Court, said: “When I look at a case file, I think if you had could have done even just a little bit of exercise maybe you would still be around. You do look at files and think that.

“If you have type two diabetes often it is because you are obese and your body can’t produce insulin. If you exercise and lose weight you can regulate your body to produce a normal level of insulin.

“There are so many deaths – coronary heart disease is because of fatty tissues around your heart. More older people are dying of these things but younger people are catching up as well.”

An aerobics session opens the class and is followed by exercises such as press ups, sit ups, lunges sqauts and thrusts, as well as circuit training, with a stretching and warm down session to finish.

Beginners and advanced pupils are taught together with exercises modified depending on ability.

She said: “It might be painful at the time but in the long run people do say they feel better. Exercise is like brushing your teeth – you do it because you want to prevent disease. And don’t starve yourself either - your body is a furnace you should feed it. Some people go to the other extreme, and sadly they end up with us as well.”

Ms Day says she holds a diploma in fitness training, sports therapy and circuit training but was forced to give up her idea of working in a gym after she ruptured her Achilles tendon.

Classes cost £3.50 a time and are held on Thursdays from 6pm to 7pm in Southgate School, main hall, Sussex Way.